Champion Homes Questions & Answers

Hi Gayantha,
I have been advised to refer back to my Contract as it states there approx 39 weeks.
Sorry I couldnt help you any further.
Good Luck with your project. :)
Kind regards
Chris

It's been 18 months and they are still building my house while the houses around me who started 6 months after me have already moved in.
They don't keep up with the time as they look for cheap labour to complete the projects, so you will only see one upgrade each month.. (i go every weekend to check the progress but return home with disappointments only)
If they see a drop of rain they will pause the construction for one week blaming the weather.
I can continue.. but don't want to disappoint you..
I pray for you...

They'll deliberately delay so they can charge you a 3.75% premium due to their contract. If you have an exit ramp, I recommend you take it. Building with champion was the worst mistake I have ever made.

Thanks Chris. I have been advised that we can take CDC path way and it could take 8 weeks to get building approval.

They are passing 4.5% variation to us and it's written in the contract. So we can't say no

They do this to many customers I read about it all the time as customers complain about this delay tactic. They did it to me in 2020 when they built our house and then tried to get me to pay a contract clause violation penalty of 33k for not completing the build in the one year window. I lodged a complaint with Fair Trading who directed me to the Building Tribunal. After I showed Champion Homes the receipt of my complaint they suddenly withdrew any more attempts to get the 33k from me. They said their decision was a gesture if good will which I thought was rubbish as they only withdrew when they knew the Building Tribunal would find out about their dodgy business practices.

It took 2 years in my experience

A very long time with a lot of variations to the cost and poor communication

Hi Bianca,
I am in the same situation
Can I have your contact details

Exit the contract now and save your life. READ all the negative feedback, and you will thank me in the future.

better stay away with champion home for house and land package. they can cancel contract any time.

Let me guess... 3.75% price hike?

We are still unsure of the price increase sadly...But I was trying to reach out to others on this platform who may be in a similar situation, however my email has been removed?

These reviews are so bogus it’s actually laughable. Nobody writes reviews like that. We went further, all the way to fair trading. Worst experience of my life.

Someone's putting together a class action. They will be in touch

They negotiate their reviews with their customers. I know this for a fact as my colleague was building through them and she told me about this. Refer to my review and please let me know about the class action. thankyou

I have also had many problems with excess charging, poor quality work, excess time taken. [Potentially Defamatory Comments Removed].

pending real review

Hi “Taking a leap of Faith” did you receive any resolution from Champion Homes/FairTrading?

They have take my $11k “tender fee deposit” which is illegal to even take non-refundable funds until construction starts and now have advised they would not be refunding this even though I exercised my right to exit the contract during the cooling off period.

Never sign Home and land package with them. They are not trustworthy. If Land Price increase, they can cancel the contract and will sell land later to others with high Price. Recently it has happened . All the good reviews you can see are not relevant.

Thank you so much for your respond. Can I ask if they any additional charge regarding the build price ?

Ha ha... additional charges?! Be very wary of “allowances” and “variations” and anything in the contract that “replaces standard HIA clauses”. Cost us tens of thousands.

True

Great question!

Product review is a waste of time if negative feedback is being deleted

Champion Homes are a fantastic building company. I cannot fault them, they are professional, honest, open and act with integrity.

Remember, if no changes after Tender, your contract will be same as Tender. When you make changes after Tender or chose upgrades at colour centre or brick yard this will result in changes to your cost. Champion do not change prices, customers change selections, and this changes the price.

My understanding is Champion Homes do not typically control Land Registration, and delays in Land Registration may result in price changes - check your contract.

Lastly, I highly recommend Champion Homes as an outstanding first class home builder. However, it is my personal recommendation you (or any other person for that matter) meet with a Solicitor who specialises in property/construction law before entering into any contract with any builder. By getting independent, legal advice you will have a legal professional explain to you what you are legally committing to when entering into a construction contract.

Hi Deano, thank you for your answer. When did you build your home?

Vera, we are still under construction. I have had no issues with Champion homes. Champion are professional in their dealings with me. I have dealt with various different people at Champion without issue. I have a few friends who have also built with Champion - all of us have been and are very happy! The Champion contract is fairly standard and without complexity. Delays typically happen when the customer makes changes after sign off of the internal/external color selection process.Simply put your price changes and delays happen if you as the customer make changes. Of course sometimes things happen that are not perfect, but if you engage Champion they fix the problem. When I read the negative comments it seems strange to me, I have had no issues with Champion. why would they give me special treatment, they would not. Champion are solid professional builders, simple!

Thanks Joe. We've decided to go with another builder.

Dont pick them because they have no idea of site where they build. they tell you that they can build cheap later they keep sending you bills despite of fixed contract and give you excuses that this is required to be done. all i know is they have no idea at all.

Some possible Contract Adjustments and Variations could include:
* handling (i.e if material is delivered to the front of site, and needs to be moved to the back by crane etc)
* traffic management
* Any engineering requirements (this includes drawings etc and then the materials that the engineer indicates)
* soil removal (they underestimate this)
* driveway allowance (again they underestimate, then sting you for the extra PLUS builders margin on the ENTIRE cost)
* On site detention, again will underestimate the cost of works, charge you the extra plus builders margin on the entire price.
* Council fees and works that we didn't know we'd need that they didn't bring to our attention were omitted from the quote
* 3.75% fee if your start is delayed (don't blindly believe the sales person when they tell you this won't possibly affect your build, it's often another income stream).
* Pay very close attention to the supplementary terms and conditions that alter, superceed or replace clauses in the standard HIA contract. These are very dangerous items and grossly favour the builder.
* The Contract lists what IS included, but not what ISN'T included. Those items can rack up believe me.
You may also need long term therapy to get over the trauma of building with this company. No blue sky here.

They hold up the design process so then the140 days are expired and then you will get an increase.. When we finally finished building and I looked back you could see how the whole process is. The only way to stop the rot is do not build with them.

don't you any designs changes and local council approvals for building BEFORE agreeing to the build.. I understand you would have to pay for council fees and insurance for any public damages and for any changes to the building design to be paid up front as these would need to be paid....as they are putting in the time for alterations...
After the design of the home for the site....it should be known before hand what filling or elevations will cost...and then the cost of building should be readjusted?
If this is not so.....I have myself questions if I would trust them...I was looking into them for building but I'm too old to go through hassles

I have the same question, and adding to that, I am just wondering why there are people who are still willing to work for this company?

I emailed customer care but came back and failed. With bob people still willing to work because they are part of these community who are good on their own way you do the maths maybe you could got a very good hint or answer

You are very right on all work adjustment they know how the system work which you can refuse and this is a warning to all dont believe the salespeople of ch . And if ever always consolt a solicitor for a black and white paper work

Hi, my experience with Champion Homes was very satisfactory. They were very understanding and helpful. And the end result was of a great standard. I'm not sure about the 3.75% surcharge. I didn't incur that.

Can I ask where you built at? And what home design you built.
Thank you.

Please tell your friends and even your enemies not to built them. If you have paid deposit. Leave it you will save more money by going with other builder.

Read my experience would not recommend any one after my experience

Watch out for this builder! They will not treat you well and will likely attempt to charge you a whole lot more than the tender price! They are difficult to deal with and will not answer your e-mails. They are often rude and will hide behind their unfair contract wherever possible. I can honestly say that building with Champion Homes has put me off ever building a new house again.

Mate, I would not recommend CH at any cost simply because there is no customer service there and they do not look after their customer. I know several persons who had a bad experience with them, Few examples -

Delays in start of the construction
Making false impressions that there would be no price hikes
Sales guy promising a lot of things as standard which later turned out to be upgrades (i.e. pay money for them)
CH willing to entertain you after hours and happy to meet you late on the dsay or weekend but all this stops once you sign the contract - then it's strictly 9 to 5 Mon to Fri.
No regular updates during teh construction
Foreman/Supervisor not taking and not returning you calls
Surprise price rise like 3.75% many were charged for delay in construction (which a customer has no control over BTW)

Personally I would not go near them.

Good luck

My experience with Champion Homes was great. I have a great home to live now and do not have any issues whatsoever. Customer service staffs were great and so was the building manager.
All my friends and family praise about how beautiful my house is and it surely stands out on the street.
I am a proud owner of Champion Homes house. They are simply the best. Great work.

Don't do it... All the negative reviews on here are 100% correct in my opinion and experience with this mob....YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED....

I'm in the process of building my second duplex through CH. Both in the Sutherland area. I was recommended them by a friend. They've always looked after me & the building standard is as good as you can expect from any builder.

We built a Champion home 5 years ago in Oran Park and were very satisfied with the result.
We have read the reviews of the dissatisfied clients regarding an extra charge being placed on them due to their land not being registered on time.. that is not the fault of the builder. It does clearly state in most tender's that should the Tender period expire and the land not being registered when anticipated that additional charges can be incurred. Most builders have this in their tenders.
We have build a number of investment properties with other project builders and found Champion Homes to be the easiest builder to deal with. This extends from the office staff to the building Supervisor.
We definitely would have built our next investment with Champion Homes but were unable to secure the land in the area that we wanted.
Ian and Wendy

Please do not go w Champion homes at all.
We went w them n illegal extra fees after 4 months of construction.Poor supervisors, there sales person horrible big liar, quality not Gud at all

In nut shell very very bad experience if u gng to built 1 st time.

Neverever build with champion homes they are very dishounest people, they always take too long too build your house and will always send amendments and will charge you more, you will regret for your whole life when you build with champion home, my sincere advise go and find someone else

That would be a big no! If you don't find yourself embroiled in a legal fight during the build (like us), looks like you will after (like lots of others on this site)! Legal, legal, legal! My advice is don't invite this trauma into your life. It's too short!

Ian & Wendy, just curious why after 5 years you're answering questions on this site defending issues other clients are having, some 5 years after your home was completed? Just seems a bit odd for someone to sit down and take the time to do that. Our home is also years old now, our issues with Champion were not related to the 3.75 increase issue, but a whole raft of others that have left us thoroughly traumatised. Would be great if you could let us all know what we could have done differently to have the smooth experience you had.

yes the way i look at it and been experiencing the building process on excuses and answers that are misleading and blaming supervisors, for not following up the supplier, and vice versa supervisors same as head office people, this is my 3rd house to be built so we know already how the builders work, those people who are thinking of building mention champion homes most probably one or two will give you an answer "we are different and we know the problem" so you will know they are very experience as well as the sales person of ch very experience on misleading

abc

the whole family of my daughter and ex wife thinks that its only the slow process of building but now this is a warning to all who wants to build with CH number one liar is the salesperson go back to him he would answer i cant remember or no idea my daughter and ex-wife check with him very well as well as the staff from landcom or bunya council but now, you are on your own to answer for your self they are very good at that this is a warning to all home buyers never and never believe the salesperson, Henly homes before they call them a bad builder but champion homes is very different in all aspects, if you dont sign or agree they will increase the price as much as they can

Hey all, is this 3.75% price hike for things that you want to change after tender? Their sales people have been trained to be proper sales people. They know what to say. I don't know if they're telling the truth or not but very convincing. CH don't seem to have the long list of inclusions like the other builders have.

I’ve ended up going with Clarendon Homes. House should be complete in the next 2 months.
Everything was fine except their build time takes a while.

They have told me that they offer 9 months for free on unregistered land and at an extra 1% of the tender price they can offer 12 months. They have told me when I went there about 2-3 weeks ago.

Hi Danni

Just wondering where you built ?

Neverever build with champion homes they are very dishounest people, they always take too long too build your house and will always send amendments and will charge you more, you will regret for your whole life when you build with champion home, my sincere advise go and find someone else

Yes you have to.. You will get all the certificates related to the house and explanation at same time...

Stay away from champion homes...

I have already signed the contract but construction hasnt started. Do you know if ending the contract at this stage is possible? What is your experience with them?

I don't think you can without losing your deposit at the least, and perhaps have to pay a penalty, which the way their Contracts are crafted, I imagine would mean serious dollars. We found ourselves embroiled in a cost escalation nightmare, due to some biased clauses and intentionally omitted large items from the Contract. Admittedly we should have had a Solicitor, maybe a Barrister, make that Queens Counsel, look over our Contract, but we're old school, trusting, and never believed it could get so out of hand. Our experience was utterly harrowing, and has put us off building for life. Good luck, my best advice is put everything in email and make it clear to your Building Supervisor that you wish to be notified of the detail and cost before the commencement of any Contract Adjustment or Variation works. I hated Friday afternoons, that seemed to be when you were hit with the next ominous Variation bill, always just in time to spoil your weekends.

@sleeplessInSydney. Did you finally build with them? Its too late for us to end the contract now because yes their contract is very complicated with alot of hidden clauses. We also didnt have a solicitor to review contract before signing. We also trusted them and didnt think we required a solicitor.

Hi Mary, yes we did. Most traumatic experience of my life. Our build was a disaster from start to finish. Have lost all trust for people and will for the rest of my life regret the 2 years of trauma we went through. It has totally taken all the shine of having a new home that's for sure. Ours remains unfinished because any spare money we had was quickly gobbled up by all the extras the contract allowed them to bill us for.
Contract Adjustments and Variations were a nightmare. We didn't realise just how much was not included in the Tender (we're not builders, so were not able to identify all the missing elements and the subsequent costs we were going to be hit with via their very well worded contract). The whole thing was just one terrifying spiral. Only communication we ever got was demanding more money, not once were we invited to walk through, given a progress update etc, forget about any good news etc. I felt in the end it was just one big cruel game, lots of legal muscle flexing from them.
Like others here, we ended up in Fair Trading. Again, just our experience. I've had friends build with other company's and their biggest drama was the tiles they wanted that they saw in the display weren't available. Their hair curls when I tell them of our experience. I see this is a few months old now, I really hope things are going well for you and everything is going smoothly. Keep positive and on your dark days just keep reminding yourself it will end!

@SleeplessInSydney I think we are in the same situation right now. They are asking us to pay the 3.75% penalty now that we are in the final stages of the construction! Why just now? Why didn't they notify us right before commencement of construction that we exceeded the 140days fixed price, so we can still include the excess in our loan and manage our budget? How did you go with Fair Trading?

Mary how did your build end up. Did you have any problems or additional charges etc

Sorry guys i hadnt seen these answers. Yes we ended up building with them after losing more than a thousand on solicitors who adviseed it wasnt easy to get out.
We ended up paying 30K extra from tender price but wity no upgrades to material. We still have sleepless nights from the trauma and the pain they put us through. Our construction is not yet complete but they took away our dream of the new home from us...not looking forward to moving in as everything in the house will remind me of the heart ache and stress champion homes put us through.

Hi Mary, just wondering where you are building and have you moved in? We are starting to look at builders now and after reading some reviews are scared to deal with Champion Homes. Can I ask for what grounds did they charge you an extra $30k with no upgrades? Did you change some designs of the house after the tender was drawn?

Sorry, I'm asking because we love the design of the Toscano house and are very close to getting a tender drawn up. My friend is currently building with them and his tender was at $320k and after all upgrades and changes ended up coming in at $384k. He had been happy with everything until the other day received a letter stating that he has to pay an additional $10k because the house took longer than the 140 days from tender to construction. He has spoken with the owner of Champion Homes and he advised him that he done everything as they told him and he shouldn't be held liable... But it's in their contact so he has to pay.

Pls think twice before signing a contract with Champion homes. Their approach is unethical and unprofessional. We are still suffering a lot.

Hi MDR, why was your house delayed for such a long time? Isn't it their contract that a 32 week time frame is the usual construction time? Were you also hit up with any additional costs that should have not been charged?
What home did you build and where? We haven't signed yet but we will need to sign by no later than Feb or March next year so our house will start. We have looked at a lot of other designs but still love the Toscano design and feel it would suit us best. Please let me know why you had such a hard time building.
Thank you and hope things run more smoothly from now on for you.

Hi all,

Just wanted to see at what stages are ur builds at and where you are building?
About 4 families have been hit with this 3.75% increase in the estate I puchased in.
We were all told false information at time of contract signing.
The issue we are now facing is where to go and what best to do as our homes are all delayed right now.

Contract stipulated 26 weeks for single level home to be completed and 34 for two level.

Our neighbours who built with another builder is already in their home since November so realistically the home build should be done by mid Feb. However this is far from the case.

Any news or information would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Lee, I'm always hoping to hear from anyone. Our land registration has been taken back so I now don't need to have a tender in place until June. Which will give me some more time to decide on a builder... I only see negative reviews on here. Just wondering if anyone has had a good experience with this company

Sam,

If you decide on this builder then make sure you get a lawyer to look at the contract and make sure you make any changes or request before the tender is signed.

go into it with your eyes wide open.

I wish you Luck.

Thanks Lee,
All my brothers have built their own houses. One with Clarendon and the other with Metricon. Clarendon charged him nearly $50000 once the tender was drawn because he made a lot of changes and I think that's how they get a lot of people. I will get the tender drawn up with everything I want changed so hopefully won't be hit with any ridiculous charges. I've asked a few people and they are all quite happy with their houses through Champion but most of them have been hit with additional charges. I will definitely have someone look over the contract before we sign the building contract. Thanks again.

Neverever build with champion homes they are very dishounest people, they always take too long too build your house and will always send amendments and will charge you more, you will regret for your whole life when you build with champion home, my sincere advise go and find someone else

abc

always hard to tell because there is always fine print small print at some places which you have to look out for. But I will avoid this company at all cost - they don't seem to care about their customers and there is no communications at all in my case.

I would allow a minimum of 25% on top of the tender price that they quote you.

you have been warned

Thank you I didn't end up going with them :)

I wish I had some reviews before I went with them. They ripped us off big time.